Hi,
I'm sure that I am about to embarass myself. I'm confused.
Here's the scenario:
I have just purchased my Sprite at the beginning of July. It later passed
a 'safety certification' inspection.
Previously, during a daylight hours drive, I turned on the headlights and
noted that the high beam indicator was not visible. (Lights on; indicator
did not appear to be lit, regardless of the floor switch setting)
As you know, I just removed and reinstalled the engine to replace the
clutch. I was unable to detach the temperature gauge sender from the rad,
so I detached the closest screw to the inner fender to get more distance
out of the sender wire. After the re-install, the dual gauge for oil/water
temperature functioned properly.
While taking the car for a test drive, I turned on the lights (so I
thought) because it was approaching dusk and found the high beam indicator
to be on (great! I thought). I clicked the dimmer switch and ... voila ...
it was still on. #;^(> Lucas, I thought. #;^|> When I was driving into
the garage, I decided to test the dimmer switch and noted that the
intensity of the beam (hah!) did not change. So I struggled out of the car
and looked at the lights ... It's remarkable how much light the park
lights give off with those clear lenses. I flicked the switch on and off a
few times in hope ... The lights didn't come on, but the high beam
indicator went on and off between the park and headlight setting. (The
switch works?)
I walked away thinking that since I had already gone through this with the
park light before the safety check, that this was more of the same.
So, tonight I had another 5 minutes and grabbed my circuit tester and
flipped on the headlight switch and went to connect the ground clamp to the
screw on the inner fender that I had previously removed and reinstalled
(for the ground connection). I was slightly shocked (pun) to see sparks.
I did a visual inspection of my other hand to see where the other end of
the connection was ... and it was solidly connected to air. I connected
and disconnected the ground end several times and found that if the tester
clamp touches the temperature gauge sender wire, it will spark;
otherwise,it will not spark. This sender wire is also connected to the
same screw that I was going to use for a ground?!?!?!?!
Hmmm, I just realized that I didn't check to see if it would spark with the
switch turned off !!!
So, I don't know when the headlights stopped working, but they should have
been working for the safety. (I don't remember ever seeing them work.)
I'm not sure if the high beam indicator light worked before, but it always
comes on with the switch now.
Why am I seeing sparks???????
Robert
'65 Sprite
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